Optical module

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an optical module, including: an optical sub-module and a first housing; where a first sub-surface of the optical sub-module is provided with a first boss, and the first housing is provided with a first opening corresponding to the first boss. The improved structure of the optical module can greatly increase heat conduction efficiency of the optical module.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical module assembly comprising:
 an optical sub-module having a longitudinal axis, an opening at a longitudinal end for sending or receiving an optical signal, and a top surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; 
 a first boss disposed on the top surface having at least one sidewall and a top surface; and 
 a first housing section for partially enclosing the optical sub-module, the first housing section having an inside surface that defines a boss receiving region having a shape that complements the first boss so that the first boss is disposed within the boss receiving region and an inside surface of the boss receiving region is in thermal contact with the at least one sidewall of the first boss to thereby facilitate transfer of heat generated by the optical sub-module to the first housing section. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical sub-module includes a bottom surface and a side surface that vertically connects the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the optical module assembly further comprises:
 a second boss disposed on the bottom surface of the optical sub-module having at least one sidewall and a bottom surface; 
 a second housing section for partially enclosing the optical sub-module, the second housing section including an inside surface that defines a boss receiving region having a shape that complements the second boss so that the second boss is disposed within the boss receiving region of the second housing and an inside surface of the boss receiving region is in thermal contact with the second boss to thereby facilitate transfer of heat generated by the optical sub-module to the second housing section; 
 wherein the interior surface of the second housing section is configured to be snap-connected to the side surface of the optical sub-module, and wherein the interior surface of the second housing section is vertically connected with the interior surface of the second housing section. 
 
     
     
       3. The optical module according to  claim 2 , wherein
 one of the interior surface of the second housing and the third surface of the optical sub-module is provided with a groove, and the other is provided with a protrusion matching with the groove to facilitate the snap-connection between the interior surface of the second housing and the side surface of the optical sub-module. 
 
     
     
       4. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical sub-module, the first boss and the second boss are rectangular. 
     
     
       5. An optical module assembly, comprising:
 a first optical sub module having a longitudinal axis, an opening at a longitudinal end for sending or receiving an optical signal, and a top surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; 
 a second optical sub-module having a longitudinal axis, an opening at a longitudinal end for sending or receiving an optical signal, and a top surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; 
 a first boss disposed on the top surface of the first optical sub-module having at least one sidewall and a top surface; 
 a second boss disposed on the top surface of the second optical sub module having at least one sidewall and a top surface; 
 a first housing section for partially enclosing the first and second optical sub-module, 
 the first housing having an inside surface that defines boss receiving regions having shapes that complement the first and second bosses, respectively, so that the first and second bosses are disposed within respective boss receiving regions and inside surfaces of the boss receiving regions are in thermal contact with the at least one sidewalls of the first and second bosses, respectively, to thereby facilitate transfer of heat generated by the first and second optical sub-modules to the first housing section; and 
 wherein the first optical sub-module and the second optical sub-module are configured to be snap-connected together. 
 
     
     
       6. The optical module according to  claim 5 , wherein
 a side surface of one of the first optical sub-module and the the second optical sub-module is provided with a groove and the other side surface is provided with a protrusion to facilitate the snap-connection between the first optical sub-module and the second optical sub-module. 
 
     
     
       7. The optical module according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second optical sub-modules include bottom surfaces and side surfaces that vertically connect respective the top and bottom surfaces of the first and second optical sub-modules, wherein the optical module assembly further comprises:
 third and fourth bosses disposed on the bottom surfaces of the first and second optical sub-modules, respectively, the third and fourth bosses each having at least one sidewall and a bottom surface; 
 a second housing section for partially enclosing the first and second optical sub-modules, the second housing section including an interior surface that defines boss receiving regions having shapes that complement the third and fourth bosses so that the third and fourth bosses are disposed within respective boss receiving regions and inside surfaces of the boss receiving regions are in thermal contact with the at least one sidewalls of the third and fourth bosses, respectively to thereby facilitate transfer of heat generated by the first and second optical sub-module to the second housing section; 
 wherein the interior surface of the second housing is configured to be snap-connected to the side surface of the first optical sub-module and the side surface of the second optical sub-module. 
 
     
     
       8. The optical module according to the  claim 7 , wherein
 the interior surface of the second housing is provided with grooves and the side surfaces of the first and second optical sub modules are provided with protrusions matching with the grooves, or vice versa, to facilitate the snap-connection between the interior surface of the second housing and the first and second optical sub-modules. 
 
     
     
       9. The optical module according to  claim 7 , wherein the first optical sub-module, the second optical sub-module, the first boss, the second boss, the third boss and the fourth boss are rectangular. 
     
     
       10. The optical module according to  claim 9 , wherein thicknesses of the first boss and the second boss are match a thickness of the first housing, and thicknesses of the third boss and the fourth boss match a thickness of the second housing. 
     
     
       11. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical sub-module is a transmitting optical sub-assembly (TOSA). 
     
     
       12. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein the boss receiving region corresponds to a blind opening having an interior surface that contacts the top surface of first boss such that the top surface of the first boss transfers heat generated by the optical sub-module to the first housing. 
     
     
       13. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein the boss receiving region corresponds to a through opening such that the top surface of the first boss transfers heat generated by the optical sub-module to air. 
     
     
       14. The optical module according to  claim 1 , wherein an area of the first boss is larger than an area of other portions on the top surface except for the first boss. 
     
     
       15. The optical module according to  claim 5 , wherein the first optical sub-module and the second optical sub-module correspond to a transmitting optical sub-assembly (TOSA) and a receiving optical sub-assembly (ROSA), respectively. 
     
     
       16. The optical module according to  claim 5 , wherein the first opening of the first housing corresponds to a blind opening having an interior surface that contacts the top surface of first boss such that the top surface of the first boss transfers heat generated by the first optical sub-module to the first housing. 
     
     
       17. The optical module according to  claim 5 , wherein the first opening corresponds to a through opening such that the top surface of the first boss transfers heat generated by the optical sub-module to air. 
     
     
       18. The optical module according to  claim 5 , wherein the second opening corresponds to a blind opening having an interior surface that contacts the top surface of second boss such that the top surface of the second boss transfers heat generated by the second optical sub-module to the first housing. 
     
     
       19. The optical module according to  claim 5 , wherein the second opening corresponds to a through opening such that the top surface of the second boss transfers heat generated by the second optical sub-module to air. 
     
     
       20. The optical module according to  claim 5 , wherein
 an area of the first boss is larger than an area of other portions on the top surface of the first optical sub-module except for the first boss; or 
 an area of the second boss is larger than an area of other portions on the top surface of the second optical sub-module except for the second boss.